Chapter 83: Handling the aftermath of the battle

Why does a dance make one feel beauty? 

What is the definition of beauty?

These philosophical questions are beyond Li Mo's ability to answer. He is just an ordinary person who knows, from his perspective, what is beautiful and what is ugly.

Sun Breathing—no, the Kagura Dance of Fire—is beautiful.

In an instant, Li Mo deeply understood why the Kamado family passed down the Sun Breathing as a sacred dance through generations. It is because it is so beautiful—a beauty that transcends the mundane, like the golden ratio.

He thought that in the era of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, no one could appreciate this pure beauty. Yoriichi's speed was so fast that no one could clearly see the traces left by his sword forms, which painted a beautiful picture in the air.

Li Mo felt his movements were slow. In *Demon Slayer*, he always pursued speed. The human body is far too weak compared to demons. If he didn't suppress his opponents quickly, he would put himself in danger.

But on Jinren Island, Li Mo didn't have as many worries.

The armor worn by the Kairagi couldn't compare to the physical strength of demons. Upper Moon demons like Akaza had bodies stronger than steel.

The dance paused, and the flames extinguished. Li Mo gently flicked his katana, shaking off the blood. As he did so, the bodies of the surrounding Kairagi fell to the ground.

His formidable physical strength and astonishing martial skills made it seem as if he were fighting in an empty field, even when surrounded.

This was a difference in level.

The situation had already turned one-sided.

The high-tier combatants were almost entirely wiped out by Li Mo alone. The remaining Ronin lost their morale and surrendered one after another. However, the two Kairagi who were still fighting Saimon Ichirou resisted to the end.

Thus, the result was that the Ronin survived, but the attacking Kairagi were completely annihilated.

Li Mo didn't bother with the aftermath. He left it entirely to Saimon Ichirou to handle. He knew he wasn't the type of person to deal with such matters.

He boiled a pot of water over the fire, then sat by the flames, sipping the hot water. As the warmth spread through his stomach, he felt a sense of comfort.

Li Mo didn't particularly like the environment of Jinren Island—it was too damp. He felt that living here for too long could easily lead to rheumatism.

Saimon Ichirou didn't keep Li Mo waiting for long.

The tall Kairagi walked over and sat down beside Li Mo, letting his face bask in the warmth of the fire.

"Saimon, how did things go?"

"Sir, everything has been handled. The remaining Ronin will be released when we head to Narukami Island," Saimon Ichirou explained his plan.

Li Mo looked at Saimon Ichirou and asked, "Are you sure that's okay?"

"It's fine, sir. That's the way it is among us Ronin. We don't kill prisoners who surrender. In the end, we're all just people trying to survive together. If it were another group, even the Kairagi leader might have surrendered. But these people are different." He paused, then added, "They were hired by certain families."

"So they're not a private army?"

"Sir, did you think the entire group was a private army? Actually, only the Kairagi have a cooperative relationship with those families. The rest of the Ronin are just their subordinates."

"Is that so?"

So it's more like a collaboration between officials and bandits rather than a private army?

Li Mo stroked his chin. These wandering samurai, the Kairagi, had formed a connection with a family in Inazuma City, gaining ample supplies in exchange for doing their dirty work.

It made sense.

"Can you guarantee that those Ronin won't seek revenge after regrouping? Human hearts are complicated," Li Mo said openly.

Saimon Ichirou thought for a moment and replied, "Sir, it'll be fine."

"Then, can you tell me what you hid? What made them come after you by boat?"

"That's exactly what I was about to explain, sir..."

Saimon Ichirou began to recount the story: "Actually, our encounter with those oddly dressed people wasn't the main issue. Recently, we've often seen such people in the wild. I heard they came from other countries across the sea. They've even approached us before. The key point is that we stole something from their transaction—specifically, something the Kairagi were trading with those foreigners."

"Those people are the Fatui from Snezhnaya. You can call them that.

So, you're saying the Kairagi had their own ulterior motives."

"Sir, this is just my speculation..."

As Saimon Ichirou continued, the full picture of the situation gradually became clear. This group of Kairagi had their own agenda. A family from Inazuma City had provided a batch of supplies urgently needed by the Fatui, and these Kairagi were supposed to facilitate the trade. However, the Kairagi secretly collaborated with the Kanjou Commission, planning to keep the supplies for themselves and use the profits to do something on Ritou Island.

Perhaps they were planning to legitimize themselves, but since it was on Ritou Island, Saimon Ichirou speculated that these Kairagi were preparing to leave Inazuma.

By then, the Ronin would undoubtedly be abandoned.

Li Mo looked at Saimon Ichirou and asked, "Is this the full story?"

"This is the full story as I've pieced it together."

In other words, this might not be the complete truth. But undoubtedly, it was the narrative most favorable to Saimon Ichirou. If the surrendered Ronin believed this story, their hostility toward him would diminish significantly.

—Their superiors, for their own benefit, led them into dangerous situations, didn't pay them, and even abandoned them. Meanwhile, the enemy spared their lives and might even offer some benefits later...

"Saimon, what exactly did you take?"

"That... I don't know what it is. I only know that the Fatui are willing to pay a high price for it. Let me show you, sir. Maybe you'll recognize it."

With that, Saimon Ichirou led Li Mo to a hidden corner and opened a box.

Inside the box were purple-white crystals. When Li Mo saw them, he could sense something contained within.

"Crystal Marrow. So it's this stuff?"

If Li Mo remembered correctly... the Fatui's Delusions required this material. It was a relic left behind after the death of a god.

So...

"Saimon, how do you plan to handle these?"

"My idea is to tell the prisoners about a small portion of it and let them know they can sell it to the Fatui at a high price. The rest I'll sell to the Fatui in exchange for money, and most of it will go to you, sir," Saimon Ichirou explained.

Li Mo paused, then said, "Saimon, you left something out. After you learned the value of Crystal Marrow, you deliberately stole this box, didn't you?"

He looked at Saimon Ichirou's slightly youthful face and asked directly.